There are many suggested benefits to sensory rooms. Ultimately, it is a really effective way of letting children communicate in a way that they might not have had before. It creates a safe environment that children can relax in, without any external factors putting extra stress and pressure on them. They can then find different ways of communicating, as well as help to develop key life skills.

Sensory rooms develop many key developments, including thought, intelligence and social skills. If your child has a challenging condition, it provides them with a whole load of opportunities, where they might normally be limited in the outside world, whether this is because of behavioural issues or limitations of movement, vision, hearing and cognitive ability. It’s is both a relaxing and calming environment for them to be in, but one that will also stimulate them, which has a number of benefits. These include an increase in concentration and focus attention; help to develop senses of hearing, sight, smell, touch and taste; improve motor development; provides security; helps to develop a sense of cause and effect and help to develop and improve creativity. Of course, there are many other benefits; however, the brilliant thing with sensory rooms is that you can completely tailor it to your child’s individual needs.

Building your own sensory room for your child is not as difficult as you might imagine. You do not require a large area – simply a space that your child knows is theirs. It can be a small play tent that you add your own colours to. Be careful not to overwhelm your child with too much stimulation. Black walls and ceilings are often found in sensory rooms as they absorb the light. Be creative when you think about the floor. After all, this is meant to be a stimulating environment – foam squares, shaggy rugs and bathmats are all good ideas. Think about including toys with flashing lights, or different textures. For a smaller, portable sensory book, you can stick swatches of wallpaper and fabric into a scrap book that can be tailored to your child’s needs and taken wherever they go; particularly if it is a new environment.

Making small changes like this can make a big difference to your child’s way of communicating. Concentrate on your individual child’s needs, and let them know that this is their space that they can be free and creative in.